Partners from Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf secured one of the largest wrongful death verdicts in Queens on Oct. 30. The firm won $41.5 million for the family of Steve Frosch, a New York City sanitation worker who died on the job.
On June 21, 2014, Frosch was at work in a Department of Sanitation garage in Maspeth, Queens. He was making adjustments to his street sweeper when he was struck and killed by another sweeper truck. He suffered up to three minutes of agonizing pain before succumbing to his injuries.
His wife, Bina Frosch, sued the City of New York for the negligence and carelessness of the worker driving the street sweeper. Ben Rubinowitz and Peter Saghir of Gair represented the Frosch family.
Frosch was 43 years old at the time of the accident and had four children ages 11, 8, 3 and 7 weeks old. He had worked for the city for 18 years, including four as a New York City Policeman, and was two years from retirement.
The jury awarded $1.5 million for pain and suffering, $15 million for past losses of parental care and guidance and financial support and $25 million for future lost guidance and financial support. Rubinowitz, a managing partner, stated: “Steven Frosch was one of the best New York City had to offer. He was a dedicated sanitation employee but even more a great husband and father who can never be replaced.”
The case was argued in Queens Supreme Court before the Hon. Joseph Esposito. Gair’s lawyers were recently highlighted in Leaders In The Law’s Insights for a landmark spinal injury verdict.